If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to become more active in your local city government or school board, this is a good place to start.
We’ve compiled a list of governing bodies in Johnson County, including where and when they meet, and how to give public comments and make your voice heard.
Some governing bodies encourage or require those who want to give public comments to sign up online or at the meeting. Also, many meetings are accessible in person and virtually.
Here’s how you can get active in your community:
Board of County Commissioners
- When: 9:30 a.m. every Thursday
- Where: Hearing Room on the third floor of the County Administration Building, 111 S. Cherry St., Olathe
- Watch online: BOCC meetings can be viewed at the Live Media link on the Johnson County website or their YouTube page.
- Public comments: Registration for comments made in person or virtually is available on the public comments webpage.
City councils
Overland Park City Council
- When: 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Monday of the month
- Where: Council Chamber, 8500 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park
- Watch online: City council meetings can be viewed on their livestream website.
- Public comments: Speakers can sign up via a form linked on each city council agenda or on the City website. People who would like to speak at City Council meetings can register as early as the day after the preceding city council meeting.
Olathe City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month
- Where: City Hall Council Chamber, 100 E. Santa Fe St., Olathe
- Watch online: City council meetings can be viewed on their website.
- Public comments: Citizens are encouraged to state their support or concerns about an issue during the public comment portion of the meeting. Guidelines are available here.
Shawnee City Council
- When: 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive, Shawnee
- Watch online: City council meetings can be viewed on their website.
- Public comments: The public can send comments and feedback to governingbody@cityofshawnee.org. They can also register to give public feedback at the city council meetings by filling out this form.
Lenexa City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 17101 W. 87th St. Parkway, Lenexa
- Watch online: City Council meetings are not live-streamed, but are archived on the city’s website.
- Public comments: The public can contact members of the city council about a meeting agenda item by phone or email, or speak up at a city council meeting when the person chairing the meeting opens it up for public comment.
Leawood Governing Body (city council)
- When: 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 4800 Town Center Drive, Leawood
- Watch online: Governing body meetings can be viewed on their livestream website.
- Public comments: The public can submit comments in advance online to the city council.
Gardner City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month
- Where: City Hall Council Chambers, 120 E. Main St., Gardner
- Watch online: City council meetings are live-streamed and recorded on their YouTube page.
- Public comments: The public can send comments and feedback by contacting their city representative.
Prairie Village City Council
- When: 6 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month
- Where: Prairie Village Municipal Building, 7700 Mission Road, Prairie Village
- Watch online: City council meetings are live-streamed on the city’s website.
- Public comments: The public can send comments and feedback by contacting their city representative or emailing the entire governing body at councilmembers@pvkansas.com.
Merriam City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month
- Where: Council Chambers at City Hall, 9001 W. 62nd St., Merriam
- Watch online: City council meetings are recorded and available to view on the city’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: The public can send comments and feedback by contacting their city representative.
Spring Hill City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month
- Where: Spring Hill Civic Center, 401 N. Madison St.,
Spring Hill - Watch online: City council meetings can be viewed on the city’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: The public can send comments and feedback by filling out a Contact Form.
Mission City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 6090 Woodson St., Mission
- Watch online: City council meetings are live-streamed and can be viewed on the city’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: The public can provide comments by contacting the city clerk.
De Soto City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 32905 W. 84th St., De Soto
- Watch online: City council meetings can be viewed on the city’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: The public can give concerns and feedback by filling out a citizen request form online.
Roeland Park City Council
- When: 6 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month
- Where: City Council Chambers, 4600 W. 51st St., Roeland Park
- Watch online: City council meetings can be viewed on the city’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: Citizens can report concerns by emailing their city council representative.
Fairway City Council
- When: 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 5240 Belinder Road, Fairway
- Watch online: City council meetings can be viewed on the city’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: The public can email their city council representative.
Mission Hills City Council
- When: 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 6300 State Line Road, Mission Hills
- Watch online: City meetings are not recorded.
- Public comments: Citizens can report concerns by emailing their city council representative.
Westwood City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 4700 Rainbow Blvd., Westwood
- Watch online: City meetings are not recorded.
- Public comments: Citizens can report concerns by emailing their city council representative.
Edgerton City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 404 E. Nelson St., Edgerton
- Watch online: City meetings are not recorded.
- Public comments: Citizens can report concerns by emailing their city council representative.
Westwood Hills City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 4700 Rainbow Blvd., Westwood
- Watch online: City meetings are not recorded.
- Public comments: Citizens can report concerns by emailing their city council representative.
Mission Woods City Council
- When: 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month
- Where: City Hall, 4700 Rainbow Blvd., Westwood
- Watch online: City meetings are not recorded.
- Public comments: Citizens can report concerns by emailing their city council representative.
School boards
Olathe Public Schools Board of Education
- When: 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of the month
- Where: Education Center, 14160 S. Black Bob Road, Olathe
- Watch online: Meetings can be viewed at the school’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: Public comments can be submitted by filling out a public participation registration card.
Shawnee Mission Board of Education
- When: 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of the month
- Where: Center for Academic Achievement board rooms, 8200 W. 71st St., Overland Park
- Watch online: Meetings can be viewed at the school’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: The public can submit comments for the Board of Education by contacting Shelly Trenholm, Clerk of the Board.
Blue Valley Board of Education
- When: 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month
- Where: Board of Education Room at the District Office, 15020 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park
- Watch online: Meetings can be viewed at the school’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: Anyone who wants to submit comments during the meeting must fill out an Open Forum Request Form.
USD 232 Board of Education (De Soto)
- When: 6 p.m. on the first Monday of the month
- Where: Board of Education Room, 35200 W. 91st Street, De Soto
- Watch online: Meetings are live-streamed (but not archived) at the school’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: Anyone who wants to submit comments during the meeting must fill out a Request to Speak Form.
Gardner Edgerton School District 231
- When: 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month
- Where: District Offices Building, 231 E. Madison St., Gardner
- Watch online: Meetings are available to view on the city’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: The public can request to voice their opinion in front of the board by filling out a Request to Address the Board of Education form.
Spring Hill Schools Board of Education
- When: 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month
- Where: District Administrative Center, 17640 W. 199th St., Spring Hill
- Watch online: Meetings can be viewed at the school’s official YouTube page.
- Public comments: Anyone wanting to submit comments are asked to contact Rachel Henderson.
